Saturday, December 6, 2025 | 6:00 PM
Oak Street, Roanoke, Texas
The City of Roanoke invites your organization or business to participate in the 2025 Hometown Holiday Parade! Detailed parade route, line-up procedures, and safety information will be provided via email before the event date.
For questions, please contact Michael Davenport, Special Events Supervisor, at MDavenport@roanoketexas.com or (682)549-1369.
PARADE THEME
- The 2025 Holiday Parade theme is “Let it Snow - Flurries of Fun!” All entries must be decorated or in support of the theme.
PARADE ENTRY FEE
- Each business or organization participating must donate 20 items from the official list provided, benefiting the Roanoke Food Pantry. Please bring all donations to the Christmas Parade Meeting on Wednesday, November 19th, 2025.
MANDATORY PARADE MEETING
- Each business or organization is required to send one representative to attend the mandatory Hometown Holiday Parade meeting on Wednesday, November 19th, 2025, at 6:30 PM in the Council Chambers (2nd Floor) at City Hall, 500 S. Oak St, Roanoke, TX 76262.
- City Staff will distribute float signs for each parade entry at the Parade Meeting. Each entry will be required to display the float sign on the float on the day of the event.
PARADE COMPETITION & AWARDS
- The parade competition judging will begin at 4:30 PM in the FairPlay Park parking lot.
- Non-cash awards will be presented to the winning organizations for each awarded category.
- Award Winning Categories: Best Overall, Light Up Roanoke, Most Creative, Best Business, Best Marching Group, and Best Organization
PARADE RULES & REGULATIONS
1. All parade entries are required to complete a Hometown Holiday Parade Application.
2. All floats and vehicles must display a minimum of 100 Christmas lights
3. All parade entries are required to display the float number provided by City Staff. (Displayed on the driver door of the vehicle)
4. All entries are restricted from having a live Santa except for the city-designated Santa.
5. Entries may be sponsored by a for-profit business; however, the entry may not be used primarily for advertising purposes and must be in keeping with the spirit of the parade and theme.
6. All staging of floats and vehicles will begin at 3:00 PM and must be ready by 4:30 PM for judging. Floats and vehicles must not be left unattended. One participant is required to monitor the float or vehicle. All participants must be ready for the final line-up at 5:30 PM.
7. Each walking group requires two adult escorts with reflective gear down the entire Holiday Parade route. All walkers must wear reflective Mylar material, carry flashlights, and dress in festive holiday clothing.
8. Floats with children participating under the age of 12 require two adults per ten children.
9. All float drivers must drive safely along the parade route and must maintain a safe speed and not exceed 5 MPH. The Fairplay Park parking lot will be limited to vehicles and floats participating in the Christmas Parade only. Additional parking will not be available in the staging area due to limited space.
10. Vehicles need to turn off vehicle headlights while on the parade route.
11. Each entry must have a Type ABC fire extinguisher and use fire-resistant materials on all floats and vehicles.
12. No candy or any other enticements will be thrown from any entry. Float walkers may distribute candy and any other enticements only. If your organization or business violates this rule, then you will be removed from the Holiday Parade.
13. The City’s Public Safety team will monitor weather. If inclement weather occurs, the Public Safety Teams will determine if the event and Christmas Parade will continue. The Christmas Parade will not be rescheduled.
Acknowledgement & Agreement
Please note submission of this application is an acknowledgment to the following agreement:
* As a prerequisite to participation in the City of Roanoke Christmas Parade, the undersigned, as a responsible party and representative for all participants of the aforementioned entry, knowingly and voluntarily assumes, on behalf of all participants, any and all risks inherent to participation in the Parade. Further, the undersigned waives on their behalf and all participants associated with this entry, any rights to claims against the City of Roanoke, their elected officials, volunteers, agents or employees for any reason including but not limited to, loss of life, bodily injury, property damage and/or loss that may be sustained as a result of participation in the Parade. The undersigned acknowledges receipt of, and agrees on their behalf and all participants associated with the entry, to abide by the rules and regulations for participation in the City of Roanoke Christmas Parade. Acceptance of this application and participation in the Parade is strictly subject to the discretion of the Parade Committee and the Committee reserves the absolute right to reject any application for participation in the Parade that is not consistent with the spirit or safety of the event. Submission of an application shall not be deemed as granting any applicant the right to enter or participate in the Parade.
